Health departments across Kentucky are facing cuts amid growing demand. Legislators just kind of roll their eyes at the situation. [Debby Yetter]

The long-term unemployment situation in America just got a lot worse. The maximum duration is dropping to 79 weeks. [HuffPo]

Yep, it’s about time for the presidential race to get all, well, racy. Because fat white guys are always this stupid. [Politico]

Woah, are we finally seeing proof that sex education fails in mouth-breather-dominated areas of the country? [MSNBC]

How likely is it that the filing deadline won’t be moved again? Highly unlikely. Since Frankfort is a literal disaster. [Kenny Coleslaw]

A new University of Kentucky report says that the Commonwealth should broaden its tax code to include services. [H-L]

Bill Adkins filed to run as a Democrat in the 4th Congressional district. Which means a Republican is still winning. [NKY Losing?]

Of course child abuse secrecy in Frankfort is only designed to protect officials appointed by Steve Beshear. [C-J/AKN]

Mouth-breathers in this country will never cease to amaze you. Now they’re trying to ban abortions based on race and gender. Because abortion is all they thing about. [Wonkette]

No only is Michele Bachmann clueless about being married to a gay guy… she believes she was the perfect candidate. [HuffPo]

SuperPACs are altering the dynamics of the presidential race and it is turning into a primary about money. [The Economist]

Of course congressional earmarks are sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers’ properties. Like that airport Hal Rogers had built for himself that sits empty. [WaPo]

No, you weren’t dreaming when we told you Phil Moffett was running for office. So take your pee break now before reading about it from the Associated Press. [H-L]

SuperPACs are worrying the DCCC chairman. Unfortunately, the Democrats were basically voiceless and silent when this mess came to fruition. [Politico]

Louisville has a few new finalists for Metro Police chief. A couple of them are shockingly great. [The 'Ville Voice]

Now that Papaw Beshear has suddenly decided the bourbon industry is worthy of his attention – after nearly five years – we can only hope he starts paying attention to Kentucky’s ridiculous label taxation and the fact that it’s tough to get many imports in the Commonwealth. [WFPL]

Goodness gracious, isn’t anything safe these days? Some doofus burgled a pharmacy in Georgetown. [WLEX18]

You already know Laurel County is a hot mess. Almost as bad as Clay County. So this won’t surprise you in the least. [WKYT]

Finally some news from Eastern Kentucky that isn’t embarrassing. Some high school students in Morehead made an astronomical discovery. [H-L]

Really, Joe Gerth? When has the legislature ever NOT been meek? The filing deadline issue is just their excuse this time. [C-J/AKN]

What would Jesus do if he was a teabagger wingnut “Christian”? Oh, the jokes to be made. [Wonkette]

We’re still loosely alarmed that these are the people in charge of making sure the University of Louisville Hospital isn’t a nightmare. [Page One]

Did you see Rachel Maddow get into a slap fight on the teevee about the Republicans trying to wage a war on contraception? She ought to remind Americans that Democrats are pussing out and doing the same damn thing. [HuffPo]

GLAAD ought to recognize that you can’t fire someone for being gay in Louisville. Not ALL of Kentucky is a disaster. [GLAAD]

People often ask us why the House Democrats aren’t as organized as the House Republicans. But they’ve finally started putting press releases or something online, occasionally. They just never tell anyone about them. Because 99% of the Dem staffers are 80-years-old and have no clue what the internet is. [Democratic Caucus]

Andy Barr

Notable Disbursements

• $13,835.38 on staff
• $2,562.97 on telephone & internet
• $1,582.91 on travel
• $932.65 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $784.80 on food & events
• $10,890.23 on printing
• $1,230.75 on postage
• 77 refunds of “anonymous” contributions totaling $7,196

We’re not sure why Barr didn’t bother reviewing his report prior to allowing staffers to file it with the FEC. Because we’re not sure how it’s possible they could think it’s, you know, possible to refund contributions to “anonymous” individuals without raising the ire of the FEC.

Ben Chandler

Notable Disbursements

• $26,151.07 on staff
• $4,705.31 on telephone & internet
• $119.35 on travel
• $2,834.92 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $5,019.25 on food & events
• $76.61 on printing
• $2,181.71 on postage

At this point, it’s clear – based on campaign finance reports alone – that Ben Chandler is more serious about running for Congress. At least when it comes to professionalism.

Rather than examine contributions this time, it’s best just to look at how much cash each party has on-hand in its federal account and how much it spent.

RPK’s year-end report covers the period July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011

• $320,035.30 Cash On-Hand

Notable Disbursements

• $353,390.48 on staff
• $82,672.37 on telephone & internet
• $1,082.03 on travel
• $60,863.42 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $6,979.79 on food & events
• $111,323.39 on printing
• $18,152.27 on postage
• $18,000 on polling
• $9,500 on video production
• $17,500 on direct mail for Jamie Comer
• $12,500 on direct mail for KC Crosbie
• $5,000 to KC Crosbie
• $266,975.85 to Todd P’Pool
• $30,000 to Williams-Farmer

KDP’s year-end report covers the period 12/01/2011 through 12/31/2011

• $575,220.08 Cash On-Hand

Notable Disbursements

• $64,745.21 on staff
• $3,707.41 on telephone & internet
• $1,129.14 on travel
• $7,927.19 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $7,272.69 on food & events
• $3,486.81 on printing
• $5,885.69 on postage
• $50,000 transfer to non-federal account

Here’s the additional information the FEC requested on January 17:

1. Itemized disbursements must include a brief statement or description of why the disbursements were made. Please amend Schedule(s) B, H4 of your report to clarify the following description(s): “Equipment” and “Fundraising Event.” For further guidance regarding acceptable purposes of disbursements, please refer to 11 CFR §104.3(b)(3).

2. Schedule H4 of your report discloses a payment(s) for “Health Insurance Stipend” and “Housing Stipend.” Please be advised that a political committee may maintain a petty cash fund out of which it may make expenditures not in excess of $100 to any person per purchase or transaction. (11 CFR §102.11) However, if this expenditure(s) represents an apparent reimbursement(s) to an individual(s) for apparent travel and subsistence advances in which the total amount reimbursed exceeds $500, there are additional reporting requirements. Please provide clarifying information regarding this activity and amend your report to include any missing information as noted below.

When the reimbursement amount to staff for travel and subsistence advances exceeds $500, the payments by committee staff that make up the reimbursement have to be itemized as memo entries regardless of the amount. Each memo entry must include the complete name and address of the original vendor, as well as the date, amount and an adequate purpose. Schedule H4 should clearly identify which reimbursement each memo entry relates to. (11 CFR §§104.10 and 104.17, and Advisory Opinion 1996-20, footnote 3)

3. Please clarify all expenditures made for “Event Catering” and “Event Tickets” on Schedule H4. If a portion or all of these expenditures were made on behalf of specifically identified federal candidates, this amount should be disclosed on Schedules B, E or F supporting Lines 23, 24 or 25 and include the amount, name, address and office sought by each candidate. (11 CFR § §104.3(b) and 106.1)

Alternatively, if the payment(s) on Schedule H4 is associated with fundraising activity conducted for your committee’s federal and non-federal accounts, it must be allocated according to the funds received method and the ratio reflected on Schedule H2. Further, it must be categorized as a fundraising activity on Schedule H4. Please provide clarifying information regarding the nature of this transaction(s) and amend your report(s) as appropriate.

A response is due by February 21.

Seems the ole KDRP isn’t so keen on providing details about who it pays and whether or not its events benefit specific candidates. As you can likely guess, that runs afoul of the law.

Here’s what the KDP spent in November:

Notable Disbursements

• $200,677.46 on staff
• $2,188.61 on telephone & internet
• $7,513.80 on travel
• $17,132,48 on equipment, supplies, rent
• $5,100.66 on food & events
• $1,051.14 on postage
• $515,000 transfer of federal funds for non-federal (papaw) purposes

We’ll examine the KDRP’s year-end report – along with the Republican Party of Kentucky’s report – in a later post.

KDRP folks will attack in 3, 2…

Growing inequality, environmental decline and “teetering” economies mean the world must change the way it does business, a UN report concludes. [BBC]

KC Crosbie isn’t running for re-election in Lexington. Will she try running for something else at the last minute? [H-L]

How would Steve Beshear know if there are 23 needed votes for a gambling amendment? He hasn’t spoken to legislators. [WFPL]

Hurry and put up that pay wall, Gannett, so your first quarter earnings can fall another 33%.Hurry up! [C-J/AKN]

Some people are trying to “occupy” Mitch McConnell again because it got them so far the first… 10,000 times. [Press Releases]

Rand Paul isn’t the only U.S. Senator to return unused portions of his office funds to the federal government. He’s not even the first. [Politico]

Damon Thayer claims he’s a man of the people. So why won’t he name his clients in the horse industry as he takes part on the push for casino gambling – which most of us actually support? Transparency would go a long way. But Damon doesn’t have the balls. [John Cheves]

Rick Santorum wants everything he does to be illegal for everyone else. That’s how it works in his mind, apparently. [Wonkette]

Ralph Baze killed these two law enforcement officers 20 years ago. But giving him death is the easy way out. Why shouldn’t murderers be kept alive so they have to actually suffer for what they have done? [WKYT]

Almost half of U.S. households are just a single crisis away from the bread line. [HuffPo]

A former employee of Louisville Metro Animal Services spoke out yesterday against a letter that appeared in A Kentucky Newspaper. Naturally, the paper wouldn’t publish her response. [The 'Ville Voice]

Wow, we’re still pretending that Frankfort isn’t bought and paid for by king coal, payday loan sharks and associated pals? And Kerri Richardson still feels comfortable officially lying? Hope she’s able to stay on long enough to get a good retirement – at least enough to make up for what’s sure to eat her conscience. [C-J/AKN]

Here’s the smart politician’s guide to avoiding scandal. Start with don’t being stupid. [NPR]

This is why the mortgage industry is a flipping disaster. It’s why America can’t have nice things. [Pro Publica]

Just cold caught in the net? Alabama’s immigration law is proving too strict and too costly. [The Economist]

Teabagger Phil Moffett officially filed to run for the State House in the 32nd District. [SoS]

Why groups like the ASPCA and Humane Society take what they can and give nothing in return. [Nathan Winograd]

Morehead State University’s president is skeptical of the University of Pikeville shenanigans. [Ryan Alessi]

This is the wet dream of Steve Beshear and Greg Fischer. The absolute tops for them. You know they’re aching to pull this stunt. [Mother Jones]

While Jack Conway has spent the past few weeks proclaiming Kentucky’s prescription pill mill problem water the the bridge, the war rages on in, you know, the real world. [HuffPo]

Will Kathy Stein joining the redistricting lawsuit matter at the end of the day? Who believes this will change anything in Kentucky? How fitting that Greg Stumbo and Larry Clark – two of the people who have worked since 2008 to remove Kathy Stein from office – would join the suit in support of all their shenanigans. [H-L]

Proposed anti-bullying legislation in Kentucky is horribly flawed and will likely die on the vine. Again. Bullying shouldn’t be illegal just for protected classes – it should be illegal AND IMMORAL to bully any child. This isn’t a gay-only thing. Or a race-only thing. This story about Rutgers student Tyler Clementi’s suicide illustrates it perfectly. [New Yorker]

A burning issue. Tighter regulation, bountiful natural gas and declining installation costs for renewable energy herald the end of America’s coal era. [The Economist]

HAHAHA PEE ALERT. The Muppets finally attacked Faux News. Miss Piggy lookin hongry. [Wonkette]

Here’s your reminder that this silly welfare drug testing legislation was withdrawn in Indiana after it was amended to include testing for legislators. This should happen in Frankfort ASAP. [HuffPo]

This Thursday at 10:00 A.M., Commissioner of Agriculture Jamie Comer will attend the State Fair Board meeting in Louisville. Comer needs to bring up the fact that the state still owes Ed Hart millions of dollars that he put up to get the Kentucky Kingdom deal going. It’s time for the state to start screwing people over like that. [Press Release]

Rand Paul’s staff is hitting back over the TSA’s semantics play with today’s Nashville detainment/delay/whatever. [Daily Caller]

Remember when he was angry over TSA pat downs?

Now Rand is getting super-suspcious and is going all “time for a Senate inquiry” on the TSA. [TPM]

Jack Conway spent most of last week claiming that Kentucky’s pill problem was drying up. Then the State-Journal ran a story that was, ahem, quite the contrary. This Wednesday is grand jury day in Franklin County and we hear even more pill indictments will roll out. Expect a big story in that paper on Thursday about pills and organized crime. Jack would have known about this massive problem that’s getting worse in Central Kentucky if he’d bothered to work with Sheriff Pat Melton. [Whoopsiedaisy]

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the government violated privacy rights in its GPS tracking case. [ACLU]

Remember Todd Lally? Now he wants to run for the newly-created 10th District State House seat in Eastern Jefferson County. [Ryan Alessi]

Neither Jim Gray nor Greg Fischer are joining their colleagues in the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. [Here & Here]

Who exactly are the 1 percent? The very rich in America increasingly work in finance, marry each other and care about politics. [The Economist]

Go read this story about Super PACs and how crazy they are. [Pro Publica]

80% of Americans want full disclosure of meetings between Congresspeople and regulators. [Rasmussen Reports]

Maybe Jamie Comer should think twice about firing the state apiarist to give the job to one of his friends. [H-L]

Here’s Steve Beshear cutting mine safety funds just months after mining deaths. This is why Kentucky can’t have nice things. It’s entertaining watching outsiders act all surprised that this sort of thing goes on in Frankfort. [Think Progress]

Papaw is really good at cutting educational funding while preserving funds for the bullshiz Ark Park. [Think Progress]

Have you read the latest from Ronnie Ellis? I’m betting that if you’ve followed the redistricting contortions birthed by the Democratic controlled House and Republican controlled Senate, you’re hardly shocked. [Ashland Independent]

Greg Fischer just got his ass handed to him – again – by Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford. This time for campaign finance corruption. And Jennifer Moore was dumb enough to believe Fischer was telling the truth. She needs to ditch that crew because she’s better than that. [Dan Klepal]

Don’t hold your breath, Curt. Emily Dennis isn’t about to dig too deeply. And if the case got to the point where Jack Conway had to appoint a special prosecutor, it’d take a couple years for anything to happen. And then folks would plead down to misdemeanors. Won’t even get that far unless you’re willing to spend $30,000ish on attorneys to push it. [Curt Morrison]

You come across as partisan, disingenuous and disconnected, sadly, when you push the talking put that only Republicans in Washington are bought and sold by King Coal. Ignoring the reality that Democrats are probably in deeper with coal than Republicans really kills your argument. [H-L]

But when an organization as great as Kentuckians For The Commonwealth also pushes that same dishonest talking point by promoting your op-ed, well, then you just have to bang your head against a desk. [Twitter]

How many fights are there going to be over redistricting in Frankfort? [WTVQ]

Look how angry people were in Lexington over Kathy Stein’s State Senate seat getting ripped away by Greg Stumbo and Steve Beshear. [WKYT]

Wait for it. Wait for it. Rick Santorum is having a Conservatives Unite Moneybomb. You read that correctly. [CLICK THE CLICKY]

Are libertarians worrying too much about the presidency? Probably. [FMIKY]

We’re trying hard to remain positive, working diligently not to roll our eyes. But it doesn’t seem likely that Steve Beshear can actually get 300 new positions going at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (it’s a whole cabinet, WFPL, not just a department). [WFPL]

HAHAHA. Here’s Greg Stumbo trying to “set the record straight” with “the hard facts, not political spin.” We almost died laughing. [House Dem Caucus]

Greg Fischer is getting his butt handed to him by Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It’s a real shame Fischer and Jennifer Moore are trying to play pat-a-cake with campaign finance law with people who actually, you know, know campaign finance law. [The 'Ville Voice]

Redistricting political games are most certainly still being played in Frankfort. You can bet some folks are getting rich off the mess. [Ronnie Ellis]

Don’t miss Comment on Kentucky tonight on KET at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Scheduled guests: Jack Brammer, Joe Gerth, Greg Stotelmyer. [KET]

Greg Stumbo isn’t merely “elusive” on redistricting. He’s playing pat-a-cake. All the Democrats are just too afraid to call him out. [WLKY]

David Williams – the guy with the talky box – filed for Congress in the 2nd District today. [Greaaaat]

Who pussed out today? That’s right, Papaw Steve Beshear pussed out today. His goal in 2008 was to hang Kathy Stein out to dry and today he accomplished that goal. She never should have believed him when he promised her a judgeship. [Page One]

Taxiing the rich in America. The wealthy need to pay more but is there a need to raise their income tax rates? [The Economist]

Kentucky education officials are working to prevent public school students from being restrained or confined alone in small rooms after citing two schools for violating the rights of three disabled students subjected to such treatment, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. [H-L]

Mittens Romney has parked millions upon millions of dollars in offshore accounts. ABC News

Meanwhile, adulterous skank Newt Gingrich paid a 32% tax rate in the year 2010. [WaPo]

More than two-thirds of Americans would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate, while nearly half of all voters think a third-party is needed, a new poll shows. [Politico]

Here’s a look at how property taxes climb even if your home’s value plunges off a cliff. [NPR]

Eastern Kentucky electeds are beginning to make noise in protest of using coal severance funds to make the University of Pikeville a public school. [C-J/AKN]